Samsung Galaxy Note 4 officially announced: specs, pictures and more

Samsung has dropped their big bomb today: the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is official. Of immediate noteworthy mention in the specs department is the 5.7-inch 2560 x 1440 Super AMOLED HD display, a resolution and size combination that should deliver some pretty remarkable results for those who place the most importance on the device’s display.

The Note 4’s design language is classic Samsung — nothing funky going on here (you’ll want the Note Edge if you’re looking for something new). It features Samsung’s typical “premium leather” backing that comes in a variety of different colors. The device seems to strike a comfortable balance between being rectangular and round — not sharp enough to be dangerous, and not soft enough to be seen as a children’s toy.

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 software and features

Samsung has done work to improve the S Pen and bring even more ridiculous new features. The biggest change is more accurate pressure sensitive, as well as increased levels of sensitivity to simulate writing with an actual pen more realistically. The pen seems to be a bit more thick than usual — big enough to be more comfortable to write with, yet small enough to stow into the phone itself.

One of the big new features Samsung’s added for the S Pen is Smart Select. This allows you to select multiple lines of text or photos at a time and store them into a clipboard. You can then take the contents of that clipboard and insert them into a scrapbook, email and more without having to click more than a couple of quick button.

They’ve also added a neat multiple selection tool that allows you to select multiple photos at the same time by simply dragging the pen over them. It’s not unlike what you’d do to select multiple files and folders on a desktop computer — should be great for those of you needing to clear out the ol’ photo gallery every now and then.

Everything else is as you’ve always known it — Samsung’s latest TouchWiz experience sitting atop Android 4.4 KitKat. Much of the same features that were introduced in this year’s Galaxy S5 have made their return, including S Health, a fingerprint scanner embedded within the home button (said to be improved over the Galaxy S5 version), and more. Samsung’s also boasting the world’s first UV sensor inside of a device, though they didn’t tell us why they threw that in. Guess we’ll know in due time.

Availability

As you’d expect, Samsung is looking to make the Galaxy Note 4 available in any market they can get it in. The global launch begins this October, with color options being Charcoal Black, Frost White, Bronze Gold and Blossom Pink (and we’re sure more will be on the way shortly after launch). There will also be a Swarovski-backed edition for those who like sparkly things. No pricing information just yet, but expect the standard $600 to $700 range with contract prices coming in at $200 to $300.

no surprise here, the note series is always a bigger slightly improved version of the latest S series phone with an added stylus.

max

More dense screen, better internals and metal construction

AA-Ron

The moment I’ve been waiting for!

SouthernBella98

Ready!

Gordon Harlan

3 or 4 GB memory?

David Narada Brown

3 gb

Andy

No fingerprint scanner? really?

J Cav the Great

On CNET they said it still had it ..

Andy

I watched the whole show live today on YouTube, they didn’t mention about fingerprint. I don’t see any reason to upgrade for my HGalaxy Note 3. The size is same and without fingerprint, just better S Pen (which I don’t use) and better screen quality, and better camera, nothing major

https://plus.google.com/108596272537415356460/posts Jason Farrell

Good.

J Cav the Great

So its Taller, Narrower, and Thinner..

GN3: 151.2 mm (5.95 in) H; 79.2 mm (3.12 in) W; 8.3 mm (0.33 in) D

https://plus.google.com/108596272537415356460/posts Jason Farrell

“microSD up to 64GB”

128GB and up, as available. Surely.

Yowan

64GB isn’t a limitation, it should theoretically support any SDXC MicroSD card as long as it supports exFAT. A lot of devices that officially only accept up to 32GB are known to support 64 and 128GB cards.

https://plus.google.com/108596272537415356460/posts Jason Farrell

Yeah, I know. Was more of an incredulous statement than a question. The SDXC format supports up to 2TB.

StormbladeX69

I’m guessing it should read that there are 32/64GB versions. MicroSD only to 64 doesn’t make sense.

Tony Lai

Did they get rid of that ugly dotted back?

http://twitter.com/Vanakatherock Vanakatherock

Yes. Has the faux leather texture now.

http://twitter.com/Vanakatherock Vanakatherock

No metal frame?

toomuchgame441

No metal frame.

http://twitter.com/Vanakatherock Vanakatherock

Well…

max

How do you know? It has a metall band around it. You mean its glued to plastic?

Defenestratus

The verge is reporting that its got a metal frame and that its “the first samsung phone that [they] could say didn’t feel plasticky”

toomuchgame441

Im actually watching their video now as I type… they are reporting it as a metal band, but I dunno… I’m still skeptical.

DaBruinz

Watch the event…they did mention metal frame.

http://twitter.com/Vanakatherock Vanakatherock

Can’t watch video at the office because bandwidth. I did, however, look at Phone Scoop’s hands-on photos and article, they do clearly mention the metal frame that is “carried over” from the Galaxy Alpha. Photos do make it appear to be metal as well.

Really? I hadn’t read that anywhere else yet. Wow.
It didn’t live up to some of the most uninspired rumors.

Gordon Harlan

I’m thinking I’m sticking with my note 3. I’ve had all three versions of the note. I was expecting more than heart rate monitor and better selfies. I’ve frozen S health and the only selfies I’ve ever taken were by accident.

vinnyjr

“Children’s Toy” This is the most powerful hand held device in the world. It has the most dynamic feature of any device, The S-Pen. This is a beast of a phone that could be used almost as a home computer.

Durin123

Who mentioned anything about it being a child’s toy?

Darren

I was worried that Samsung was going to put tons of crap. But they didn’t do anything at all to it…

DaBruinz

Did you watch the event? They added what counted from what I watched. The biggest impression I liked was the camera improvements, charging speeds, improved S-Pen and added features and the partnerships they signed up for the launch. That meas the features the are there will not just be Samsung’s job from the get go to get apps for it.

Darren

No I missed it. But I expected a bunch if silly nonsense on the phone. Plus I really hate what they’ve done to the settings menu on the S5. I bought the LG G3 and I’m pretty happy with it.

DaBruinz

You need to watch the event. Never assume. I was surprised at what they offered this time.

Tom Sly

OnePlus One is where its at people. Half the price plus Cyanogenmod 11S. Steal of a deal. Don’t buy the Note 4.. You’ll probably want the OPO still anyway ;)

mcl630

Problem with OPO is you have to jump through hoops and kiss One Plus’s behind to get the privilege of *buying* their phone. No thanks.

Tom Sly

I didn’t have much of a problem getting two phones. Checked the forum here and there for an afternoon and found someone who’d share an invite. I don’t have invites yet but there supposed to give them to purchasers as they become available. Also they’re looking to get off of the invite only system by October (hopefully). They would do themselves a huge favor if they did. Just in time for many other phone releases. Its honestly the best phone for specs price and build quality combination I’ve owned. Owned a Note 3, I have a Nexus 5, M7, M8, S4, S5 (returned the S5 for the M8). OPO is worth the wait.

mcl630

Originally they were supposed to drop the invite nonsense in late June. Why are their still so many people who want one who can’t buy one if invites are so “easy” to get?

Anyways, I’ll never beg to buy anyone’s product. If you want me to buy your product, make it as simple as possible to actually make the purchase, don’t throw up hoops to jump through.

Tom Sly

Yeah I agree. I don’t know I guess I lucked out. We all know they don’t want to still be on the invite system. They’re a start up so try and give them some grace. I hope they come off the invite system soon so folks like you can get one easily. It really is an amazing product.

Nexus 4 and to a lesser extent Nexus 5 product fulfillment wasn’t easy. And that was LG and El Goog!

mcl630

I will give them some slack for being a startup, but with short supply they really should have gone with a first-come, first-served waiting list rather than gimmick contests and begging for invites.

You’re right, Google really botched the N4 release… and they caught a lot of flak for it. The N5 release was (relatively) smooth.